Calvin Leavy

Calvin Leavy
Birth name Calvin James Leavy
Born (1940-04-20)April 20, 1940
Scott, Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States
Died June 6, 2010(2010-06-06) (aged 70)
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States
Genres Soul blues, electric blues
Occupation(s) Singer, guitarist
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active Mid 1950s – 1990

Calvin Leavy (April 20, 1940 – June 6, 2010) was an African American soul blues and electric blues singer and guitarist.[1][2] He had a hit single in 1970, when "Cummins Prison Farm" peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard R&B chart, and stayed in the chart for five weeks.[3] More locally, it was number one on the chart of the Memphis, Tennessee based radio station, WDIA.[1]

Later in his life, Leavy became the first person indicted under the 1988 Drug Kingpin Law, and he subsequently died in prison.[1]

Biography

Calvin James Leavy was born in Scott, Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States. He was the youngest son of fifteen children, and started singing in his church choir. By his adolescence, Leavy sang with various gospel ensembles in Little Rock. He formed the Leavy Brothers Band in 1954, and they were popular locally, before relocating to Fresno, California. By the end of 1968, they moved back to Little Rock, and played at local clubs. Through this work, Leavy was offered recording time in E&M Studios in Little Rock. As well as a cover version of "Tennessee Waltz", the group recorded the song "Cummins Prison Farm", which was written by Bill Cole. Leavy used the prison experiences of one of his brothers to expand the lyrical content.[1] It was originally issued on Soul Beat Records, and underwent subsequent national distribution via Blue Fox Records, that label's first release.[4] "Cummins Prison Farm", reached number 40 on the Billboard R&B chart.[3] Recorded in one take, it was one of 27 blues based songs that reached the R&B chart in 1970.[1]

Leavy recorded further singles for Aquarian, Soul Beat, Downtown and Messenger Records.[5] These included "Nothing But Your Love", "Give Me a Love (That I Can Feel)" and "Goin’ to the Dogs Pt. 1". In addition, the band made some recordings for the Arkansas Bicentennial Blues Project, which were archived at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. They also appeared in 1977 at the Beale Street Music Festival, before disbanding. Forming Calvin Leavy and the Professionals, he and his new outfit remained popular locally. They recorded "Is It Worth All (That I'm Going Through)", "Big Four", "What Kind of Love", "Free From Cummins Prison Farm", and the prophetic "If Life Last Luck Is Bound to Change". However, further national chart success eluded him.[1] Nevertheless, he maintained a strong fan base in the South, and his records often appeared on local jukeboxes.[5]

Cummins Prison, both the inspiration for Leavy's only national hit record, and his later 'residence'

In 1991, Leavy was charged with making payments to an undercover police officer, and was convicted in July 1992, of multiple drug related offences.[6] He was sentenced to life plus twenty-five years. His imprisonment started at Cummins Prison. By 2004, his sentence was commuted to seventy-five years.[1]

In June 2010, Leavy died at the age of 70 in the Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas,[7] having been eligible for parole in eighteen months time.[1][6]

Discography

Compilation albums

Year Title Record label
2000 The Best of Calvin Leavy TAM
2003 Cummins Prison Farm P-Vine

[8][9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gwendolyn L. Shelton. "Calvin James "Slim" Leavy (1940–2010)". Encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Calvin Leavy". Allmusic. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 262.
  4. ↑ "Record details". 45cat.com. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Big Road Blues". Sundayblues.org. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Amanda Terrebonne (June 7, 2010). "Calvin Leavy dies at 70". Todaysthv.com. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  7. ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club January to June 2010". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  8. ↑ "The Best of Calvin Leavy - Calvin Leavy | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2000-02-15. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  9. ↑ "Cummins Prison Farm - Calvin Leavy | User Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-02.

External links

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